asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Director of Public Information, Government of India, recently paid a subsidy to the Muslim newspaper "Aligarh Mail"; and whether it is the policy of the Government of India to subsidise certain communal newspapers in India and for what purpose?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar question in the Legislative Assembly on the 1st February, of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that overseas pay to district opium officers of the Benares opium service was granted, with effect only from 1st April, 1924; and that at the same time their basic rate of pay was reduced by Rs. 250 (in certain cases Rs. 200) per month; and on what grounds these officers were treated differently from officers of other services?

District opium officers of non-Asiatic domicile have been granted sterling overseas pay with effect from the 1st April, 1924, a portion of their previous inclusive pay being merged in sterling overseas pay, as in the case of officers of other services whose pay had not previously been stated in terms of basic and rupee overseas pay. The grant to these officers of sterling overseas pay has given them a minimum net increase of £120 per annum. The increase is £135 per annum in the case of the higher paid officers.

Can my Noble Friend say whether these officers are getting exactly the same treatment as other officers of similar standing in other services?

The position is this: Their pay was increased by an average of 61 per cent. when rupee overseas pay was given to the All-India Services in 1920. Had sterling overseas pay been given to them without abatement of their previous rupee pay, the increase would have greatly exceeded that in the All-India Services. Therefore the answer to my hon. Friend's question is, in effect, Yes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Foreign Secretary is expected shortly to visit Persia; for what purpose this visit is being undertaken; how long is it expected to last; and from what funds the cost of the visit will be defrayed?

I am not aware of any proposal that the Indian Foreign Secretary should vist Persia.

Has the Indian Foreign Secretary recently visited Persia?

No, Sir, he certainly has not recently visited Persia, nor am I aware of any proposal that he should visit Persia.

Is it not a fact that Sir Denys Bray, the Foreign Secretary, did go to Persia last November for certain negotiations?

No, Sir, to the best of my belief Sir Denys Bray has not visited Persia recently.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state if the Government have finally considered and arrived at a decision, regarding the findings of the Indian Sandhurst Committee presided over by the chief of the general staff in India; and, if so, whether he will inform the House of the nature of the Government's decision?

In all probability an announcement will be made on behalf of the Government of India in the Legislative Assembly during the present week.

Will that statement be laid on the Table, so that Members of this House may know of it; otherwise, in what way can we here know what is being said in India on this important subject?

I quite sympathise with the hon. Member's position. I think he will be able to read it in the "Times" newspaper the day after the announcement, but I will consider whether a copy of the reply given in the Assembly can be placed in the Library simultaneously with the announcement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Government has accepted the proposal of the Bombay Legislative Council to appoint a committee of non-official members to investigate the charges of incompetence and corruption recently levelled against certain officials employed in the development department which constructed the works connected with the Back Bay scheme; and, if so, will he give the names of the committee and the terms of reference?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, in view of the fact that the Government of India gave permission to Mr. Harvey, an official of the special Bombay Government engineering department, to prosecute Mr. Nariman for the statements contained in his evidence given before a committee of investigation, and announced its intention of paying his expenses, under certain circumstances, if he will state whether, in view of the action having been decided against Mr. Harvey, it is still the intention of the Government of Bombay to pay these expenses; what action is it proposed to take against the officials against whom evidence of corruption was proved; and does the Government propose to pay expenses and compensation for loss of time and health to Mr. Nariman who was prosecuted?

My Noble Friend has at present no official information regarding any of the points to which the questions relate, but has called for a report from the Government of India.

Has the Noble Lord's attention been called to the Press statement that it was proposed to appoint such a committee?

Yes, Sir, I have seen statements to that effect in the Press, but really the matter primarily rests with the Government of Bombay, and in cases of that kind it would be done in the ordinary course of administration. Notification would not be sent to the Secretary of State, but, as his attention has been called to the matter, my Noble Friend has asked the Government of Bombay for a report.

I will put down a question for next Monday.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the whole of these matters arise from the specific statement of the previous Governor of Bombay that he was acting in this matter purely in view of rights vested in him by Parliament. In view of that fact, does not the Noble Lord realise his own responsibility to guide from here the further ramifications of this matter?

I am afraid I do not quite understand the purport of the hon. Member's question, but the constitutional position is this: The matter is primarily one for the Government of Bombay, but, as I have already informed the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury), my Noble Friend is asking the Government of Bombay for a report on the matter, and I will communicate the purport of that report to the House.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any official investigation has been made into the loss of £850,000 in gold shipped by the Indian Government in a German steamer for Hong Kong during the period of tension in 1914; and whether shipments of gold are now confined to vessels flying the British flag?

Only one shipment of gold on account of the Indian Government was made in the two months July and August of 1914, and that shipment was safely conveyed by a British vessel to its destination. Under present practice, gold moved on Indian Government account would undoubtedly be shipped on British vessels whenever possible.

Will my Noble Friend give the widest publicity to the statement he has made, in view of the statement, made in a German publication, that this £850,000 was shipped in a German vessel?

I do not know that there is any need to give it the widest publicity. My Department has made careful historical researches into this matter, and can find no basis whatever for the statement in the German book in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any communications have taken place between the British Government and Ibn Saud as to the present British policy of repelling raiders in Iraq; and, if so, can he give the House particulars?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have been most careful to furnish King Ibn Saud with prior information as to the action to be taken to repel the raiders. I do not think it desirable to give particulars at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is making any inquiry as to the failure of the British Air Force to prevent raids on the southern frontier of Iraq?

No, Sir. I see no reason for making an inquiry. I am quite satisfied that the Air Force has done, and is doing, all that is possible to deal with these raids, and that the maurauders will ultimately learn that they cannot penetrate peaceful neighbouring territory and indulge with impunity in wanton pillage and the massacre of men, women and children.

Is the right hon. Gentleman quite satisfied that the headquarters of the Royal Air Force should remain in the northern part of Iraq, while these raids generally take place on the southern border? Is he contemplating a shifting of the headquarters, so that the forces may be more on the spot when these raids occur?

In a matter of a purely technical character, I am not contemplating interfering with the discretion of the air commander there.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that in using air force to punish the supposed culprits you are always liable to kill innocent men, women and children, and that the right course would be to have a regular police arrest of the guilty parties themselves?

No, Sir, I—

That is more like a speech than a question

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the principal reasons that have made it necessary to send further engineers to draw up a fresh design for the proposed Zambesi bridge; and why the scheme proposed by Messrs. Livesey, Son, and Henderson was considered inadequate?

Before the recommendation of the Committee appointed under the East Africa Guaranteed Loan Act could be given for the grant of Government support to the construction of the bridge, it was considered desirable that the scheme already prepared should be checked by engineers appointed in association with the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number and, if possible, the proportion of the total of the white children, the Indian children, and the native children in Kenya who receive elementary education; whether the whites and the Indians, respectively, pay any special contribution to such education; whether he is aware that the Kavirondo are raising £10,000 for education purposes in their reserve; and whether any other tribes are imposing taxation through their own native councils in order to raise money for education?

The details asked for in the first part of the question are not available in the Colonial Office. Both Europeans and Indians pay a special education tax, fixed at 30s. yearly per head for every male European over 18, and 20s. in the case of Asiatics. I have not been able to obtain confirmation of the amount which the Kavirondo are raising for education purposes, but I am aware that the local councils of this and other tribes vote money regularly for such purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that it has recently been laid down by the deputy-director of sanitary service in Kenya that the minimum for a large rural native district, containing 100,000 to 200,000 people, is one district medical officer, one medical officer of health, one dispensary medical officer, two European nursing sisters, one European sanitary inspector, and possibly a European hospital assistant and a storekeeper, and, in addition, an adequately trained native subordinate staff, a hospital with accommodation for about 100 patients and from 6 to 12 out-dispensaries; whether this standard is in force in any of His Majesty's Colonies; and whether pressure is brought to bear on the Governments to increase their medical staffs up to this standard?

My attention has been drawn to the interesting address to the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in which this statement occurred. So far as I am aware the standard suggested has not been endorsed by any Colonial Government and as the medical requirements of the Colonies differ so greatly it would be impracticable to regard such a suggestion as a general standard of administration. Oversea Governments are everywhere endeavouring to maintain a medical staff adequate to their requirements and I am glad to say that in some of the African territories a relatively high standard has already been achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the legislation which it is proposed to initiate in Kenya Colony under which domestic servants will require to be registered and their finger prints taken by the police; and whether he is prepared to consult the Government of India as to its attitude towards any such proposals?

I am aware that a Bill for the registration of domestic servants has been under the consideration of a Select Committee of the Legislative Council, but I do not know with what result. The Bill provided that finger prints should be taken not by the police but by the Registrar appointed for the special duty of registration under the ordinance. I see no reason to consult the Government of India on the subject.

Seeing that any proposal to make legislation in regard to finger prints apply to Indians is bound to lead to serious trouble, would it not be better to consult the Government of India before agreeing to this proposal?

No, Sir. The fact that in other countries finger prints are used for identification purposes in connection with crime is no reason why finger prints should not be used elsewhere for an entirely different purpose, as in this case.

Are not finger prints taken simply in order that servants shall not escape from their employers and take up work elsewhere, and are we to encourage a system which practically indentures labour?

No, Sir, I do not think that is the effect of the system. The real difficulty, as some of us would realise if we were on the spot, is always to recognise these people.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are certain States where you have to have your finger prints registered before you can get a licence to drive a motor car, and that there is no indignity in it at all?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can state what will be the title and status of the representative of His Majesty's Government of Great Britain who is to be placed at Ottawa; and when will he be appointed?

The points raised by my hon. Friend in the first part of his question are receiving the consideration of His Majesty's Government, but no decision has yet been taken with regard to them; nor am I at present in a position to answer the inquiry in the latter part of his question.

When are we likely to know the result of the inquiry?

I hope pretty soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he has received representations from the Canadian Government upon the proposal to appoint a Canadian Minister at Tokio; and what reply he has returned?

It has been announced that, by agreement between the Governments of Canada and Japan, it is proposed, subject to the approval of the Canadian Parliament and the Japanese Diet respectively, that each of these countries shall be represented in the other by a Minister Plenipotentiary. His Majesty's Government in Great Britain were informed in advance of the desire of His Majesty's Government in Canada for such an arrangement, which is in accordance with the conclusions of the Imperial Conference of 1926, as indicated in Section V (c) and (e) of the Report of the Inter-Imperial Relations Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Government has decided to extend the terms of reference to the Irish Grants Committee to include claims for injuries received before 11th July, 1921, and subsequent to 12th May, 1923, for which no compensation, or inadequate compensation, has been awarded?

As regards the period prior to the 11th July, 1921, the arrangements in respect of compensation were settled in 1922, and His Majesty's Government in Great Britain are of opinion that their obligations in respect of such compensation have been adequately met. As regards the period after the 12th May, 1923, I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook) on the 23rd May last year, that if he was aware of any injuries originating after the 12th May, 1923, of such a kind as would otherwise come within the terms of reference to the Irish Grants Committee, I should be glad if he would send details to me. This is still the position.

If I can bring to the attention of the right hon. Gentleman any case where is was physically impossible for persons to register their claims with the previous Irish Grants Committee, will he consider allowing them now to put in a claim to the present Committee?

I am afraid we cannot go behind the pre-truce settlement of 1922, but, if my hon. Friend likes to send me any particulars, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the estimated sum which will be required to compensate ex-British civil servants under Article 10 of the Irish Treaty in accordance with the recent judgment of the Privy Council; what is the reduced amount which it is estimated will be payable in accordance with the revised proposals made by the Irish Free State to the British Government; and what compensation it is proposed to pay such civil servants for being retained in office beyond the period of two years from the date of handing in their notices of retirement, as provided in the treaty?

As regards the first two parts of the question the detailed information required to enable an estimate to be given is not in my possession. As regards the third part, if, as would appear, the civil servants have received salary for the period referred to, no question of compensation would seem to arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the Treaty these civil servants had the right to retire within two years, and many of them have been kept over three years, thereby losing employment? Does he not think that they are entitled to some compensation for being illegally detained?

I do not think they were illegally detained, but very naturally they stayed on pending a definite ascertainment of their position with regard to pension rights.

Did not the British Government really consider the liabilities involved before deciding to pass legislation to deprive these people of their rights as decided by the Privy Council?

The Government very naturally considers the whole position of civil servants, both here and in the Irish Free State, and they do not desire that these particular civil servants should enjoy a position of greater privilege, though certainly not less, than British civil servants here.

Were not these civil servants specially deprived of employment on which they had entered under the British Government, and is not that an entirely different case from civil servants who cease to be employed under an employer with whom they engaged?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any negotiations have taken place or are in progress between the British Government and the Government of the Irish Free State for the repeal of Article 66 of the constitution of the Irish Free State, as set out in the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922, which preserves the right of appeal to the Privy Council from decisions of the Irish Courts on special leave being granted by the Privy Council?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many persons have been migrated since the Empire Settlement Act of 1922 came into operation: and what is the average cost per migrant to the Exchequer?

The total number of persons assisted under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, up to 31st December, 1927, was 251,794. The average cost per migrant was £13 16s.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the refusal of the Southern Rhodesia Government to allow the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union to organise native labour in Southern Rhodesia; and if he will state whether the previous consent of the High Commissioner was obtained?

I have seen reports in the Press, but I have no official information on the subject. I am unable to say whether there has been any communication in the matter between the Governor of Southern Rhodesia and the High Commissioner for South Africa, nor indeed is it apparent that any such communication was in the circumstances necessary.

Are we to understand that the Government of Southern Rhodesia is solely responsible for the conduct of native affairs in Southern Rhodesia, or have we still reserved to this country powers of supervision?

Yes. I think under Section 41 of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution there are certain limitations to the full powers of the Rhodesia Government in dealing with these matters, but I do not understand that that arises on this question.

That is the point I want to ask about. Does the right hon. Gentleman concede that we have any right to interfere with the attitude of the Southern Rhodesia Government towards coloured workers; are we debarred from discussing that question in this House; or are we still under the reservation entitled to call the attention of the Rhodesia Government to what we consider to be an injustice?

I am not aware of the detailed circumstances, but I think that the Southern Rhodesia Government in the exercise of their administrative discretion can refuse to allow any particular union to organise native labour, but this does not, as I understand, raise the particular reservation in Section 41 of the Rhodesia Constitution.

None the less are we not entitled to ask questions in this House on this subject in order to do what we can to protect native interests in Rhodesia?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if the result of the British Industries Fair in London and Birmingham has been in every way satisfactory; and whether he is able to inform the House which sections of British industry have benefited most in the effort which has been made?

I am very glad to be able to state that the results of the Fair, both in London and Birmingham, have been eminently satisfactory. The area of the Fair was 256,000 square feet in London and 180,000 square feet in Birmingham of net exhibiting space, both these figures being records, and representing a total increase of over 130,000 square feet from last year. The attendance of home and overseas buyers was also a record in each case, the number in London being 103,586 and in Birmingham 103,000. I may say that a large amount of space has already been booked for next year's Fair. I am confident that the Fair has been of real practical benefit to all sections of British industry which participated in it, and will undoubtedly lead to increased business.

Since it has been admitted that the Fair has been such an outstanding success, will the hon. Gentleman consider whether the Fair could not be held for a longer period each year on a more permanent basis?

That question will receive consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many persons have been settled on the land in this country since the passing of the Small Holdings Act of 1907; what amount of money has been contributed by the State for the purpose and what have been the contributions made by local authorities; how many of these persons are ex-service men and how many of the original settlers have given up their holdings; and what has been the average cost per settler to the State and municipalities combined?

As the reply is long, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question relating to what has been the average cost per settler?

My answer says:

"It is impossible to divide this deficit between pre-War and post-War holdings, although it is certain that the major portion is in respect of the latter. Dividing the deficit, however, by the total number of holdings provided, it is equivalent to about £30 per annum per holding."

Would it not be better to migrate these people instead of trying to settle them on the land here?

I think compulsory emigration would be looked upon as a very great hardship by those who wish to find an opening in agriculture in this country.

Does the right hon. Gentleman define this as compulsory settlement?

This is rather a matter for debate than for Question Time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what information he can give to the House as to the reductions that have taken place in the wages of agricultural labourers of 65 years and over since the Contributory Old Age Pensions Act came into operation, and the measures he has taken, or proposes to take, in regard to such reductions?

A few cases of the kind mentioned in the question have been reported to me and have been investigated by inspectors of the Ministry. From the reports so far received it appears that in three of them the matter arose out of a misunderstanding and has since been adjusted, but in a fourth case I have given instructions for legal proceedings to be taken against the employer. I have also taken steps by notices in the Press and a circular letter to the agricultural wages committees to call the attention of employers in agriculture to the fact that they are not empowered to pay less than the minimum rates on the ground of workers being in receipt of old age pensions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if it is a condition of Government contracts that overtime be paid at more than ordinary time rates?

All contracts made by the Department contain a Fair Wages Clause based upon the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons of 10th March, 1909, and in all instances in which it is the rule of the trade for overtime to be paid for, at more than ordinary time rates, the Department requires the contractor to observe the custom.

asked the Minister of Health the number of visiting committees appointed to visit the 282 children who are maintained in scattered homes by the West Ham Poor Law Commissioners; and how they are selected and appointed and from what part of the Poor Law Union they are selected?

Four members of the West Ham Advisory Committee, which was appointed by my right hon. Friend, have been requested by the guardians of the West Ham Union to assist in the inspection of these children. None of these persons reside in or represent any part of the West Ham Union.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the National Union of General and Municipal Workers' Approved Society, No. 130, lost approximately 5,200 members, age 65 or over on 2nd January, 1928, in consequence of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act coming into force on that date, of whom 1,200 were on the funds; and if he can state whether it is possible to obtain similar information from other approved societies?

My right hon. Friend has no information as to the number of members of individual approved societies who were of the age of 65 or over on 2nd January last, or of the number of such members who were in receipt of benefit on that date. It would only be possible to obtain such information by calling for a special return for each of the 7,000 societies and branches, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to put them to this trouble.

Does it not follow that, if the other approved societies have the same membership pro rata that we have in our approved society, and the same number pro rata on the sick list at the time, some hundreds of thousands of people are being deprived of their sickness benefit of 15s. a week, and are only getting 10s. as pension?

No, Sir; the hon. Gentleman is quite misinformed as to the effect of these provisions.

You do not give the information; how do you know that I am wrong?

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the guardians of the Birmingham Union on 15th February with regard to the mentally unfit; and whether he proposes to set up such an inquiry as is asked for?

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of this resolution, and he fully appreciates the importance of the matter to which it refers. But he cannot undertake at the present time to embark on an inquiry which would involve the far-reaching and controversial issues inseparable from this question.

Will my right hon. Friend take steps to impress upon local authorities the powers that they already have, and the necessity of enlarging them, under the Mental Deficiency Acts?

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the area in Worcestershire that was denuded of its timber during the War; the area that has since been replanted; and the area the Commissioners propose to replant in the near future?

I have been asked to reply. The Forestry Commissioners have no precise figures as to the area in Worcestershire that was denuded of timber during the War. The census of woodlands in 1924 disclosed that, of the total area of woodlands in that county, 5 per cent., or 1,049 acres, had been felled and not replanted. To the end of last season, 274 acres had been planted by the Commission in Worcestershire; an additional 192 acres have been planted during the current season. The area of future planting will depend on the extent of the plantable land which the Commission are able to acquire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the examination for the Board of Trade certificate for masters and mates, and the curriculum leading up to it, is based upon a practice of navigation not now commonly used in oceangoing vessels; and at what date the whole subject was last considered, with a view to bringing the examination into line with modern practice?

I am unable to accept the suggestion contained in the first part of the question. The examination regulations are frequently revised. The last revision was made in 1925, and a Committee, on which the various interests are represented and under the Chairmanship of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Swansea West (Mr. Runciman), is now considering whether further revision is required.

May I ask how it is that, if this examination is on entirely up-to-date lines, it is necessary to have another committee two years after the last revision?

I think it is because the conditions of navigation are constantly altering, and it is, therefore, necessary to bring the examinations up to date from time to time.

Can my hon. Friend tell us if in 1925 the new navigation was in fact included in the examinations, or whether they were still working on the old lines?

I am afraid I have not seen the full conditions of the examinations, but I shall be pleased to send my hon. Friend full particulars if he so desires.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total number of boys and girls who left elementary schools in the West Riding of Yorkshire at the age of 14 in each year since 1922?

As the reply to this question consists of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any records that will show the number of alien orientals who have entered Great Britain during the preceding 12 months by illicit means; and will he give particulars?

My right hon. Friend regrets there are no figures that he could usefully give without a special search of the records.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any pension is payable either to a civil servant who has been dismissed from the Service or to a civil servant who has been allowed to resign in consequence of an adverse report?

No, Sir.

May I ask what is the difference between these two punishments?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will define more closely exactly what he wants me to answer, I will make inquiries and let him know.

Is it not the fact that resignation is a form which conserves pension rights?

I do not know whether it is applicable to this particular case.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, in order to obtain approval, under the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act, the Federation of Women Civil Servants has been compelled to delete from its constitution one of its objects, which was to secure the removal of the civil and political disabilities of women; under what Clause of the Act was this action taken; whether it is appreciated that women seeking to enter the Civil Service are suffering under legal disabilities which differentiate their recruitment and pay from that of men; and whether he is aware that this application of the Act will have the effect of preventing women civil servants working to obtain equality with men in their profession?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; and, to the second part, that this action was taken under Section 5 of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act, 1927, and the Civil Service (Approved Associations) Regulations, 1927, made in pursuance of that Act. I do not know what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind in referring to the legal disabilities of women in respect of their employment in the Civil Service. In any event, the action taken under the Section referred to does not prevent the federation named in the question, or any other association of civil servants, from taking steps to influence or affect the remuneration and conditions of employment of its own members.

asked the Prime Minister if arrangements can be made for the Committee inquiring into the question of rubber restriction to make an interim Report at the earliest possible moment, and so help to allay the anxiety now felt in the rubber industry?

My hon. Friend may rest assured that the sole object of the Government is the development and prosperity of this industry, and that, as I have already said, the time and manner of any announcement will be such as will best conduce to that end.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any written record was made of the discussion at the interview which took place between the technical adviser to His Majesty's Government on cinematography and Mr. Herbert Wilcox, producer of the film entitled "Dawn," at which this film was discussed; and, if so, will he give the House particulars?

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that hundreds of industrial assurance policies lapse every week for which the owners receive no monetary compensation; and whether he will consider the advisability of instituting an inquiry into the matter?

I have no particulars of the number of industrial assurance policies that lapse every week. In many cases a cash surrender value is paid or a free paid-up policy is granted under the terms of the contract. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that this matter was investigated by a Departmental Committee under Lord Parmoor. The recommendations of the Committee were embodied in the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923. Section 24 of that Act is designed to protect policy-owners in the event of the lapsing of their policies. It will become operative on 7th June next; consequently, I do not think an inquiry is necessary or advisable.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state what decision has been arrived at by the Government regarding the broadcast of controversial matter?

The Government have reviewed the decision, taken at the time of the constitution of the British Broadcasting Corporation, under which the corporation has been prohibited from broadcasting—